Joshua 13 3

Joshua 13:3 kjv

From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:

Joshua 13:3 nkjv

from Sihor, which is east of Egypt, as far as the border of Ekron northward (which is counted as Canaanite); the five lords of the Philistines?the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites;

Joshua 13:3 niv

from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites

Joshua 13:3 esv

(from the Shihor, which is east of Egypt, northward to the boundary of Ekron, it is counted as Canaanite; there are five rulers of the Philistines, those of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron), and those of the Avvim,

Joshua 13:3 nlt

and the larger territory of the Canaanites, extending from the stream of Shihor on the border of Egypt, northward to the boundary of Ekron. It includes the territory of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. The land of the Avvites

Joshua 13 verses

Joshua 13 3 Meaning

Joshua 13:3 details a significant portion of land in the south and west of Canaan that remained unconquered at the time of the division of the land among the Israelite tribes. Specifically, it describes the geographical extent of this unconquered territory, stretching from the Brook of Egypt (Shihor) northward to the Philistine city of Ekron. The verse identifies the primary inhabitants of this region as the five principal Philistine cities—Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron—ruled by their respective lords, along with the Avvim people. This enumeration underscores Israel's incomplete obedience to God's command to drive out all the inhabitants of the land.

Joshua 13 3 Context

Joshua chapter 13 marks a pivotal shift in the narrative of Israel's conquest of Canaan. Chapters 1-12 recount the initial successful campaigns led by Joshua, where powerful kingdoms in central, southern, and northern Canaan were defeated. Chapter 12 provides a summary of thirty-one kings whom Joshua and the Israelites conquered. However, chapter 13 opens with a declaration from the Lord to an aging Joshua: "You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess" (Josh 13:1). This statement highlights that despite the significant victories, the conquest was incomplete. The verse at hand (13:3) is part of God's specific description of the major unconquered territories that still needed to be possessed, beginning the process of land allocation by lot, even for land not yet fully secured. Historically, this period marks the transition from active military campaigns to tribal settlement, underscoring the ongoing challenge and responsibility facing the Israelite tribes.

Joshua 13 3 Word analysis

• from the Shihor:
  • Hebrew: מִן־הַשִּׁיחֹר֮ (min-haššîḥôr). "Shihor" (שִׁיחֹר - Shiḥōr) literally means "black" or "turbid water." It is often identified with the "Brook of Egypt" (Wadi el-Arish), a seasonal stream that flows into the Mediterranean Sea, forming the traditional southwestern border of Canaan and serving as a demarcation point with Egypt.
  • Significance: This marks the southernmost and westernmost extent of the unconquered territory, a boundary established by divine promise (Exod 23:31) but not yet fully secured.
• which is east of Egypt:
  • Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר עַל־פְּנֵי מִצְרָ֑יִם (ʾăšer ʿal-pǝnê miṣrāyim). Literally "which is before the face of Egypt" or "upon the face of Egypt."
  • Significance: Clarifies the precise location of Shihor as the frontier boundary from Egypt's perspective, marking the promised land's edge.
• as far as the territory of Ekron northward:
  • Hebrew: וְעַד גְּבוּל עֶקְרוֹן צָפ֖וֹנָה (wǝʿad gǝḇûl ʿeqrôn ṣāfônâ). "Ekron" (עֶקְרוֹן - ʿEqrôn) was one of the five major Philistine cities, located at the northern edge of the Philistine plain. "Northward" (צָפֹנָה - ṣāfônâ) indicates the extent from south to north.
  • Significance: Defines the northern boundary of the unconquered coastal plain and highlights Ekron as a powerful Philistine stronghold.
• which is counted to the Canaanites:
  • Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר יֵחָשֵׁב לַכְּנַעֲנִ֑י (ʾăšer yēḥāšēḇ lakḵǝnaʿanî). "Counted" (יֵחָשֵׁב - yēḥāšēḇ) means reckoned, attributed, or considered. "Canaanites" (כְּנַעֲנִים - kǝnaʿanîm) here refers to the broader indigenous population of the land, though sometimes distinguished from Philistines.
  • Significance: Even though occupied by Philistines, this land falls under the divine decree for the Canaanite lands to be utterly dispossessed by Israel. It reinforces the theological imperative of conquest.
• the five lords of the Philistines:
  • Hebrew: חֲמֵשֶׁת֙ סַרְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (ḥămešeṯ sarne(y) fəlištim). "Lords" (סַרְנֵי - sarne) is a unique title specific to the Philistine rulers, often translated as "princes" or "tyrants." It does not carry the typical Hebrew sense of "king" or "chief." "Philistines" (פְלִשְׁתִּים - pǝlištim) were a distinct sea people who migrated and settled the southwestern coast of Canaan.
  • Significance: The use of "seranim" emphasizes their distinct governance structure. This highlights the Philistines as a major, formidable, and ongoing threat to Israel, not merely a single kingdom but a pentapolis. Their prominence would span centuries in biblical history.
• the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites:
  • Hebrew: עַזָּתִ֥י וְאַשְׁדֹּדִ֖י הָאַשְׁקְלוֹנִ֣י הַגִּתִּי֙ וְהָעֶקְרֹונִ֔י (ʿazzātî wǝʾašdōdî hāʾašqǝlônî haggittî wǝhāʿeqrônî). These are the five major Philistine city-states (Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron), forming a powerful confederacy.
  • Significance: These cities represent the heartland of Philistine power and control over the strategic coastal plain. Their continued presence signifies a major unfulfilled aspect of the conquest and a constant source of future conflict for Israel (e.g., in the time of Samson, Saul, and David).
• also the Avvim:
  • Hebrew: וְהָעַוִּֽים (wǝhāʿawwîm). The Avvim (עַוִּים) were an ancient people mentioned in Deut 2:23 as having been destroyed or displaced by the Caphtorim (Philistines).
  • Significance: Their inclusion here confirms their lingering presence within the region of the unconquered Philistine territory, even after previous displacements, emphasizing the dense and diverse population that Israel was to overcome.

Joshua 13 3 Bonus section

The Philistine "pentapolis" (five cities) mentioned in this verse were major cultural and economic centers in the ancient Near East, highly skilled in ironwork and maritime trade. Their advanced weaponry and organized military posed a formidable threat that would repeatedly test Israel's faithfulness and military prowess for centuries, culminating in key encounters with figures like Samson, Samuel, Saul, and David. The inclusion of these unconquered lands in God's directive to Joshua, despite their current inhabitants, emphasized that the boundaries of the land were divinely set and intended for Israel's full possession. This was not a passive observation of what was not conquered, but an active declaration of what was still part of Israel's inheritance by divine promise, setting a continuing charge for future generations. The land was apportioned by faith even before it was fully secured by force.

Joshua 13 3 Commentary

Joshua 13:3 provides a critical delineation of the territory that Israel had failed, or had not yet been commanded, to fully conquer, despite previous successes. It details the fertile Philistine plain along the Mediterranean coast, a region that remained a powerful, independent enclave throughout Israel's history. The description from Shihor (Brook of Egypt) northward to Ekron outlines the geographical extent, emphasizing the strategic coastal access and rich agricultural lands that God had promised but were not yet secured.

The verse notably refers to these inhabitants as "counted to the Canaanites" even while naming the specific "five lords of the Philistines." This demonstrates that God viewed all inhabitants of the promised land as within the scope of Israel's conquest and dispossessing mission, irrespective of their specific ethnonym. The mention of the unique title "seranim" for the Philistine rulers, rather than the more common "kings," underscores their distinct governmental structure as a confederation of city-states.

The presence of the Avvim, an ancient group partly displaced by the Philistines themselves (Deut 2:23), further highlights the complexity of the demography within this unconquered land. This incomplete conquest serves as a crucial theological point: Israel's partial obedience resulted in a persistent "thorn in the side," fulfilling God's warning in Numbers 33:55. This ongoing challenge taught Israel about reliance on God, the consequences of disobedience, and the importance of full commitment to His commands for the full inheritance of His blessings. It sets the stage for much of the drama in the Book of Judges and later conflicts with the Philistines during the monarchy.